Hidden Magic

My dreams come in waves every night, but they are more vivid tonight. I can feel another place, another world, a place where I belong, where I am not an outsider. I open my eyes and see lightning dash across the sky; maybe that is why my dreams are so vivid tonight. The storm is loud. It sounds as if the wind and rain are angry. Maybe it is.I look at the clock. The small clock blinks 333. The power must've gone out from the storms. The house feels a little warm. I guess I slept through the power outage. I slide to the side of the bed. I want to look out the window. Why? I have no idea. It is as if something or someone is calling to me. I have felt this way my entire life, like something is out there for me.I slide into my pink fuzzy house shoes and walk sleepily across the hardwood floor of my upstairs bedroom. I slide the sheer white curtain back and look into the night. It is beautiful and angry at the same time. I close my eyes and take a deep breath of the rain. The smell is swe

Fallon POVThe days go by quickly and slowly at the same time. I feel as if I am floating. Every day I move slowly, and time moves fast. I cannot stop thinking of them and why they are gone. Nothing in life seems fair right now. Everything is in a daze.The funeral, my extended family, and then time alone all seem to run together. My bitch aunt and her daughters try to bully me about every part of the funeral. Lucky for me, my father left detailed instructions about their last wishes. She had no say over anything I did for my family.Tad was the hard part for me. He was only and had15 no last wishes. So I followed my parent's wishes for him too. All three were given a small service and then cremated. My Aunt let it be known to everyone that she should have my mother's ashes. I am not separating my family. I want to keep their ashes together and with me."You are a selfish little bitch. I want my sister with me," My Aunt yells at me.My Aunt repeatedly caused a scene. She wanted everyo

Fallon POVI walk down the stairs to Bruce. He is singing in my kitchen, and I believe he is cooking. I stop at the entrance to the kitchen and listen. I listen to the noise coming from the kitchen, the sounds of joy. Can I be joyful now? Is it wrong for me to be thinking about joy? I smile for the first time in days, and I feel guilty about it."Hey! I didn't mean to wake you. I am cooking. I guess that is obvious. I was planning to bring you breakfast when it was ready," Bruce stammers. He looks cute and sweet as he cooks breakfast for me."You didn't wake me," I respond. I go into the kitchen and sit at the family-sized table.A table for a family, but there is no family anymore. There might be a lost family. I want to find this other family, but I don't want to disrespect the family that raised me. There is a lot to think about today."I planned to bring breakfast for you, but since you are here, we can eat together," Bruce says. He suddenly realizes he has already said that. He i

Fallon POVAt seven in the morning, Bruce and I are loading the car with two small bags. I should be worried or anxious, but I am neither. I honestly want to get this over with and find a light at the end of all this. Is there a light? I have to think that when this is over that, I will have a better understanding of my life and my family, both of them. I get into Bruce's fire engine red mustang. "This car says a lot about you," I say, joking with him. I know he loves this car, and I love to pick on him about it being a chick magnet."It says I am single, and no one wants me," Bruce snaps back.I touch his shoulder, and he smiles. I remind myself that we work together and he is only a friend. I don't see him any other way. Besides, he is my only friend, and I don't want to be alone in this world. Bruce is all I have left. I can't screw that up."Some day, Bruce. Some day you will find the woman of your dreams. I only hope she likes me and lets us remain friends," I say. In a way, tho

Fallon POVBruce and I step out of the hotel onto Royal Street. We are in the heart of the French Quarter. The music is coming at us from all directions. There are street performers dancing up the street. I have never seen so many different types of people. I watch them for a moment taking all of it into my soul. People are dressed in costumes, posing in the streets for tourists. I understand why people come here. As we walk down the street toward the little magic shop, I close my eyes for a moment and let my heart listen to the music. I am in heaven. "It's beautiful. I cannot believe what I am hearing and seeing," I say.Bruce stops. "Not as beautiful as you," he says. He touches my chin and gives me a half smile. I smile. I have been in New Orleans for maybe an hour, and I already feel peaceful and at home. The noise doesn't bother me. Bruce stops in front of a storefront that is boarded up and closed. His expression drops from happy to upset. "This is it. But there is nothing h